After having had three tracks arguably within our area [and several more if you
count the likes of Stateline near Bennington, the track in Claremont, NH, and
the track in Brattleboro – we were not hurting for places to attend stock car
races back in that period when the sport was burgeoning and tracks popped up all
over the place. But then, as is true with most gluts, the bubble burst and wee
proceeded to drop to no track within a comfortable driving distance by 1955.
With Pico's failed attempt to re-open in 1955 with Carl Roupp's Tri City group,
it looked pretty much over.

One of the few oases during that horrible racing drought was the Vermont State
Fair, at the fairgrounds in Rutland, Vermont. The place had [and still has] a
typical paper clip – shaped half mile track made expressly for horses. The
surface was never good clay; the fences were always a dangerous, flimsy wood;
and the grounds are not far from residential areas.

Courtesy of Cho LeeSprint cars come out of turn four
at the fairgrounds track in Rutland – around 1960. Below – The start of the
SCODA race at the fair in 1957.Aldo Merusi Photo Courtesy of Rutland Historical Society

The fair staged typical open wheel races almost every year. While midgets were
the usual fare, I did get to see some sprint cars one year – including a few
Vermont drivers. In 1957, the fair dug up a show with the Sports Car Owners and
Drivers Association [SCODA]. Somewhat resembling stock cars, these cars were a
bastardized form of sports car that used any parts available; and their
appearance was not much like the more elite sports car clubs.

But SCODA did come and put on a pretty good program, considering, the track
always sucked for auto racing and the grossly inadequate water truck could not
keep the dust down on a sunny Sunday afternoon in early September. I recall
walking among the mostly black primer cars after race and marveling as to who
want to sit in some of them – let alone go fast on a cramped, unsafe track. The
star I recall was a guy named Jay Jacobs [although he didn't win].

There wasn't a lot more to see at the fairgrounds until 1961. My uncle and I had
stumbled upon a race at Weissglass Stadium on Staten Island when my aunt was
visiting relatives [that might be another blog another time]; and we had made a
trek up to the Colchester – Bayview Speedway in Malletts Bay around 1958 – but
that was the whole enchilada. Naturally, we were pretty glad to here that actual
stock car racing would be held at the fair in 1961 – during fair week.

Charles Zullo Photo via Ken EdsellThe unique inner city setting of
Weissglass Stadium is readily evident in this shot”of local star Buddy Laureno
[16].
The Depression era stadium actually had to use the lot of a next door Chrysler
dealer as part of its pits.
Below - Cars including Wayne Chandler's 3Jr Hudson and Pat McGraff's 37 take off
at Colchester – Bayview Speedway.

Bob Mackey Photo via Mike Watts Sr.

As it turned out, the Lebanon Valley Speedway would be staging this race, and
seemed to count towards the other races in their program, if I interpret
material in one of Uncle Art Stuarts' book correctly. This was before the
legendary Valley open shows, and the track was still somewhat playing a support
role to Fonda Speedway [although they shared no competitors].

The program was extremely entertaining, made even more so by the vocalizations
of Valley announcer Uncle Art Stuarts, who let us in on all the drivers little
interesting stories. Now, it is widely debated whether the race was genuine or
whether the outcome was pre - decided due to the obviously unsafe track
conditions. The field [and it was a good one] was almost completely comprised of
Valley regulars, whose dislike of interlopers was legendary at that time.

Courtesy of Arnie AinsworthDoug Garrison and Martin Riiska's
sedan were one of the highlighters at the 1961 Vermont State Fair show.
Below – Stretch Van Steenberg, Valley 1960 champ in a sedan, ran this late model
in 1961 at Rutland.

Courtesy of Arnie Ainsworth

If I understand it correctly, at that time, Valley teams ran flatheads or six
cylinder powerplants. However, a little like the NASCAR experiment, they could
use an overhead V-8 if they ran a heavier, late model body such as a 1955 Chevy
or Ford, for example. In those days, you'd be apt to see a Valley star in one
photo with a '55 Ford, and he might be in a coupe in the next shot. I guess some
teams had both.

The list of names that day was unbelievable: Doug Garrison, with the Martin
Riiska Yellow X out of Winstead, CT; Stretch Van Steenberg, from Saugerties, NY
with a late model Ford; Clarence “Butch” Jelley out of Pownal, VT with Ed Winn's
Y car; Don Rounds, from Warwick, RI with the beautiful blue 101 with the pirate
flag flying; Howie Westervelt, from Ravena, NY with what I think was another
late model Ford; Neal Dunstan, from Voorheesville, NY had another Ford; Fred
Searing [by then a veteran of many years] came out of Oak Hills, NY with a team
car to Johnny Flach, who started the prominent Flach family of racers; and Joe
Messina – who won the race however that was managed, was there with his
trademark Hudson.

Ladabouche CollectionDon Rounds in his long – lived Ford
coupe out of Rhode Island. Below -
Butch Jelley, who would star the next year at Fairmont Speedway, ran this
coupe at the fair show. He claims the show was rigged; Rounds angrily denies
that.

Bob Frazier Photo Ladabouche Collection

That was just a few of the stars who attended the race that day. A team from
Claremont Speedway decided to crash the party, although it may not have been a
good idea. Frank “Stroker” Smith, of Keene, NH fielded a cutdown Ford coupe
numbered 311. His driver, Moran “Sonny” Rabideau was an accomplished machinist
at Angell Automotive in Brattleboro by then, as well as a champion many times
over. For his troubles, he ended up stuffed under the rail off turn one, just
mere feet away from the propane tanks of the Roxie's French Fry stand. The 311,
being very lightweight, could have caused some real problems that day for the
heavier Valley car; but that was taken care of.

However [ with the possible exception of Rounds' car] the car I remember the
most was a somewhat beatup – looking plain colored '56 Ford, the driver of which
was described by Art Stuarts as “Rebel” Harris. As it turns out, according to
the Uncle Art Stuarts Record Book, Harris was the high points man that year at
Lebanon Valley; and that was no small accomplishment. The car, uniquely numbered
as “AAA”, flew around the track, attracting a lot of attention from the crowd
while not winning.

Courtesy of C.J. RichardsAfter being crammed under the fence
in 1961, Sonny Rabideau won C.J. Richards' big race in Fall of 1962 at the
fairgrounds.
Below – The Lawrence – wrenched Rebel Harris car, as it was featured as 1961
Valley champion, in Uncle Art's annual book.

From Uncle Art Stuarts' Book

Between the catchy – looking Yellow X, the speed of the AAA, Rounds' great –
looking car with the pirate flag,and the overall quality of the program, it was
one of the most satisfying events I attended – even years after. The combination
of Daniel Duncan “Rebel” Harris and his young mechanic, Joey Lawrence was the
stuff racing legend is made of. But, in those days, owners and ace mechanics
were seldom mentioned much by track announcers like Mike Valchovic of Fonda, Art
Stuarts of the Valley, and others like them.

Thanks to excellent source work from people like Jeff Ackerman and Chas.
Hertica, I now know a lot more about D.D. Harris and Joey Lawrence. The teenaged
Lawrence had gotten hooked up at an early age with the older Harris, who had
already raced at places like Arlington Airport Speedway, Rhinebeck Speedway,
Onteora Speedway, Riverside Park Speedway, and more for years. By the beginning
of the 1960's He and cohort and fellow driver Danny Mitchell had gotten in with
New York's Jim Reed, an early star in NASCAR's Short Track division.

Joey Lawrence Collection via Chas HerticaDanny Mitchell's powerful coupe would
end up with his buddy Harris and
with Joey Lawrence. Below - Jim Reed, from the same region as Harris and
Lawrence, made prime Ford equipment available.

McDowell Portrait via Ken Gypson

The three ended up in Daytona in 1961 with Reed, who had just switched from
running Ford equipment to Chevrolet. To make a long story short, Lawrence,
Harris, and Mitchell ended up scoring a good buy on all Reed's Ford stuff. They
had taken some of this equipment and assembled that '56 Ford Crown Victoria from
a car with which Reed had won a race at Darlington earlier. The effort seemed
like a no – miss deal, with Harris, Mitchell and Lawrence being helped by advice
from Reed and help given by prominent car owner Gordon Ross, as well. The AAA
number came from an aluminum business Harris had.

Harris was a rocket, winning all over at tracks like Arlington, the Valley, and
Onteora. The motor was from a former Ford engineer named Bollander, and had many
special components. The team actually had two of them. Lawrence's brother worked
at an auto plant where he had access to Holley carburetors [before they were a
widely – know item]. The car was even impressive at Middletown, arguably the top
of the NY modified world at that time. As a matter of fact, Mitchell had run a
flat top coupe at Middletown with another Bollander motor. Harris and Lawrence
would eventually buy that car, which became one of their famed AAA coupes.

Both Photos: Joey Lawrence Collection via
Chas HerticaThe Ford Corwn Vickie, at the Lawrence house
in Newburgh, NY, before the body got so beat up. That's the sizable Danny
Mitchell
with the much smaller Joey Lawrence. Below- The Ford heading out for
practice at Langhorne in 1961.

At any rate, I went on to view racing at Otter Creek Speedway in the northern
part of Vermont before C.J. Richards re – opened Fairmont Speedway in Fair
Haven, VT – which gave me a weekly track to attend for the first time in my
life. Harris and Mitchell had parted ways, but the still – young Lawrence would
team with Harris for two or three more seasons, first running that ex – Mitchell
car. The Mitchell car was first called aaa, as Joey's mother had chosen to
letter it; so, they decided this better be aaa Jr.

Eventually, the aaa Jr was purchased by the Mueller brothers, who owned Albany
Pork Stores in the area. Harris still drove and Joey still wrenched, but some of
the financial stress was removed. Before this, Joey had depended on some support
from a local Oliver Tractor dealer to keep his operation going, seeing as he was
not yet 21 and had limited funds. Eventually that car was sold to a local racer
named Dink Davis, who hired Valley regular Jimmy Markle to drive. Lawrence spent
some time in the military around this time.

Courtesy of Chas HerticaJimmy Markle winning at the Valley
with the Lawrence – wrenched Dink Davis 82. Below – The better, faster
[more familiar] AAA coupe with Rebel Harris and a then – 22 year – old
Joey Lawrence. The siding business
run by Harris is advertised on the side.

Joey Lawrence Collection via Chas Hertica

Later, a better and faster AAA coupe would be built and run successfully –
especially at Onteora Speedway, in Olive Bridge, NY. The two would have more
success with this car. Harris had tired of the military – style, uncomfortable
seats most stock cars were using, settling for a seat out of a Pontiac
Bonneville. He also refused to use the harness belt setup similar to Grand
National cars that Joey had gotten to keep him safer.

The body, being a pre- 1936 coupe, had that hole in the roof where the original
car would have a wood and leather – covered roof opening that teams usually
plugged with welded tin. In 1963, at Onteora, Harris was flying through the
field when he hopped someone's wheel and went airborne. The car hit the track
with a terrible force and Harris was ejected. He would not survive the trip to
the hospital, suffering a punctured lung.

Courtesy of Arnie AinsworthNow it was Joey's turn to be the
elder team member. Below – A young Jackie “Whistlin'” Wilson with a Joey
Lawrence sedan.

Courtesy of Chas Hertica

A heartbroken Lawrence would finally return to racing, running cars numbered 16,
and have a fantastic second career with young driver Jackie Wilson, from
Fishkill. Now it was his turn to be the elder member of the tema. Joey would
also, at one time or another, have hired drivers like Jan Opperman, as well as
many stock car stars like Jimmy Markle, Rene
Charland, Dick Hanson, Mike Grbac, Rich Ricci, Bob Malzahn, Roger Laureno, Chuck
Ciprich and Ernie Marshall.
One of the really cool stories is that of Dave Buanno, of the Fort Johnson, NY
trucking family. A perennial backmarker at Fonda , Buanno got behind the wheel
of Lawrence's tubular – chassised Mustang at Fonda and won a feature with it.

Old photos show us that D.D. Harris had a big career before he hooked up with
the young Lawrence. But, that afternoon in September at the fairgrounds in
Rutland, we all got to witness, first hand, how good that combo was –
particularly in 1961. Joey Lawrence, a diminutive man, was one of the most
accomplished builders and owners in the Northeast for years. Sitting in those
old covered grandstands, watching those cars struggle at high speed around that
dusty track, we spectators seldom get to know the story behind the car whizzing
by us.

Gater Racing News PhotoDave Buanno, with the Lawrence Mustang.
Having a tubular chassis, the car was leading edge at that time. Before that, he
,may have been most know
for landing in the Mohawk River in his own #36. Below – Joey Lawrence sees to
adjustments for Jan Opperman at the 1974 Syracuse race.

Chas Hertica Photo

Please email me if you have
any photos to lend me or information and corrections I could benefit from.
Please do not submit anything you are not willing to allow me to use on my
website - and thanks. Email is:
wladabou@comcast.net . For those who still don’t like computers - my
regular address is: Bill Ladabouche, 23 York Street, Swanton, Vermont 05488.